AC Milan: 3 Positions of Weakness and the January Transfers to Solve Them
The transfer window of January 2016 will offer AC Milan the chance to boost their squad after an underwhelming opening six months to this season. For it to be a success, the Rossoneri must utilise the opportunity intelligently.
This means not wasting money on short-term signatures, loan signings and cheap additions. In short, no panic buys.
Instead, Milan must structure their spending in a considered manner, ensuring those that come in are suited to the team in a tactical sense and can improve specific areas of weakness.
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At present, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s preferred system is the 4-4-2, something that looks set to stay for the time being. As such, Milan must assess the positions within this formation in need of strengthening.
Defence has been a priority since well before Mihajlovic’s arrival as coach and this remains the case at present. Aside from Alessio Romagnoli, Milan lack quality central-defensive options and could do with adding in that department.
A need for width grew out of the team’s switch to the 4-4-2 formation in late November, and while Giacomo Bonaventura has been superb on the left, a right-sided winger of equal ability is a requirement.
Finally, central midfield remains a potential weak point. Andrea Bertolacci has only recently begun to settle since his summer move from Roma, while Riccardo Montolivo’s upsurge in form in the first half of this campaign may only be temporary.
As such, Milan should look into strengthening in the following areas: central defence, central midfield and right wing.
Central Defence
Empoli’s fiery defensive leader Lorenzo Tonelli has matured into one of the finest centre-backs in Serie A. The 25-year-old, while relatively short for his position at 6’0”, is an aerially strong, ferocious competitor willing to put his body on the line for team-mates.
Last season, he formed a superb defensive pairing with Daniele Rugani, who is now at Juventus, though he has stepped out from his former team-mate’s limelight this season, once again proving to be a reliable player capable of operating at a higher level.
According to Il Messaggero (h/t Football Italia) Empoli’s asking price for Tonelli is "closer to €8 million," a fee well within reach for a club of Milan’s size.
That fee would represent an astute piece of business given the quality and form of the player. According to Squawka.com, Tonelli has been the third-best defensive performer in Serie A this season. His spite alongside the elegance of Romagnoli could be a perfect partnership.
Alternatives in this area would include Torino’s Nikola Maksimovic and Juventus reserve Martin Caceres, though there are stumbling blocks regarding the former.
The Serbian hasn't played since late August due to a metatarsal fracture and, given Torino president Umberto Cairo’s previous declaration that a €12 million bid for the player from Napoli was “absolutely inadequate,” per Goal.com (h/t Rai Radio), he may also be too expensive.
Central Midfield
According to WhoScored.com, Marten de Roon has the second highest tackles-per-game average in Serie A. That statistic, alongside the 24-year-old Dutchman’s other qualities, make him the sort of player Milan should be looking at to improve their central midfield.
A defensive midfielder who combines physical resolve with canny positional sense and persistence, de Roon is a difficult player to get past, as Milan discovered when drawing 0-0 at home to Atalanta on 7 November.
He perhaps isn’t as well known as other Milan transfer targets, but he would be an effective acquisition and his defensive stability could allow Bertolacci to play with greater creative license. Furthermore, Transfermarkt.co.uk estimate the player’s value at £1.4 million, putting him well within Milan’s price range.
A higher-profile possibility in this area of the field for the Rossoneri would be Zenit’s Axel Witsel. However, according to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), the Belgian international could cost around €35 million, a gargantuan sum of money.
An outside shot worth considering for Milan would be Napoli’s Mirko Valdifiori, who has seen less gametime than initially expected after joining the Partenopei in the summer.
A deep-lying playmaker with similar qualities to former Milan icon Andrea Pirlo, Valdifiori could improve Milan’s possession game and, according to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), he “could seek a loan spell elsewhere in January," making him a potentially inexpensive short-term recruit.
Right Wing
There is hardly an abundance of wingers within the confines of Serie A given few teams play with them, but Palermo’s Franco Vazquez may be able to fulfil this position for Milan.
A trequartista by trade, the 26-year-old is a sublime dribbler with a precocious left foot capable of opening up defences in the space of a few touches. Hypothetically, he could operate on the right of Milan’s midfield four cutting in onto his favoured foot in the same way Bonaventura does on the left-hand side.
Rai Sport recently reported (h/t Football Italia) that Vazquez will join Milan, speculating the move will happen: “In June, certainly. In January, maybe.”
If the Argentina-born Italy international doesn’t arrive at San Siro, the Rossoneri could do worse than looking at Genoa’s Diego Perotti as an alternate. A lithe and versatile player full of trickery and with real technical quality, he could add penetration to Milan’s attacking game.
How Mihajlovic’s team could shape up
The triumvirate of Tonelli, de Roon and Vazquez would not only fill problem areas for Milan; they would do so efficiently, given all three have Serie A experience and thus would not need to adjust to a new league.
The combined cost of the three signatures could be offset by clearing out much of the deadwood that still lingers around the fringes of Milan’s first-team squad and would greatly enhance Mihajlovic’s starting lineup.
Post-January, with just three additions, Milan could be a much more stable defensive force with added creativity in attacking areas. They would be a more balanced side and better placed to return to where they feel they belong—the top of Italian football.
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